Dismountable container

ABSTRACT

The present invention refers to a box for transporting and storing different products, which is made of wood and can be fully assembled and disassembled. The box is suitably used for transporting pieces and automotive parts for long distances. The improved box comprises a pallet type bottom plate ( 10 ), side plates ( 20 ) and upper cover ( 30 ), said side plates ( 20 ) being coupled (i) together by means of pairs of hinges ( 24; 25 ), (ii) to bottom plate ( 10 ) by means of pairs of parts ( 27; 28 ) in the lower portion that cooperate with the respective pairs of parts ( 12′; 13′ ) of said bottom plate ( 10 ) and (iii) to cover ( 30 ) by means of latches ( 20′; 30′ ). In a first embodiment of the present invention, all said pairs of hinges ( 24; 25 ), pairs of parts ( 27; 28 ) of side plates and said pairs of parts ( 12′; 13′ ) of bottom plate ( 10 ) face the interior of said box. In a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, only one of hinges ( 240; 250 ) faces the outer part of the box, but both joints ( 230′; 240′ ) and rod ( 400 ) are accessed through the outer part of the box.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention refers to a box for transporting and storingdifferent products, manufactured or not, which can be disassembled andrestored to its original shape several times.

More particularly, the present invention refers to with a wooden boxwhich can be fully assembled and disassembled by only one person, whichis adequately used for transporting pieces and automotive parts for longdistances.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The transportation of products for long distances frequently requirespacking systems which are resistant and suitable to each type ofmaterial transported. Thus, for example, we have the transportation ofautomotive vehicle parts from the manufacturing plant to the assemblingplant. The parts for assembling automotive vehicles are generally aremade of metal with precision and uniformity and must get to theassembling line without any type of physical damage in their structure,mainly damages that can affect the use thereof or make them unusable,for they shall be processed in high-precision equipment in the vehicleassembling plant. Therefore, such damages as deformation of thestructure, surface corrosion, scratches in parts made of plates andprovided with surface treatment, and the like, are undesirable.

In view of such automotive industry demand, boxes have been developed,generally made of wood, for this is the most suitable material for thattype of transportation, for satisfying all transportation needs such assafety, resistance, water-tightness, as well as ability to be piled up,deformed and disassembled. However, despite those industry demands,traditional boxes that cannot be disassembled are still in use, and forsuch reason have a short half-life and are not cost-effective, besidesbeing clumsy and heavy to be handled, thus making it difficult to carrysame.

There are at least two types of boxes in the market which can be fullydisassembled and restored to their original shape that are frequentlyused in the automotive industry.

The first one, developed and patented in the name of the Applicant undernumber BR 6200841 and marketed under trade name Vicaixa®, is providedwith a base structure made of plywood and comprised of a bottom, foursides and cover which are fastened together by means of metallic anglebars having locking latches. Said angle bars are provided with teethwhich are attached to the plywood surface by means of compression. Theclosing of the box is carried through by the locking of a latch providedin one of the sides of the pair of angle bars in a groove provided inthe part in the opposing side of said pair of angle bars. A variant ofthat design, which can be partially disassembled, provides the joiningof the sides together by means of a metallic ribbon which is alsoprovided with teeth for attachment to the plywood surface,longitudinally positioned between each pair of sides. Said metallicribbons make it possible to fold one side over the other.

Despite the fact that the above mentioned Vicaixa® satisfactorilyfulfills the automotive industry requirements, it presents some problemsconnected with the maintenance and conservation thereof, since metallicparts, angle bars and ribbons are exposed over the box structure. Thisbrings about the direct contact of metal/metal and/or metal/wood, thusdamaging both the metallic parts and the wood structure of the box.However, this contact is not desirable while such boxes are transportedand stored, for it causes the disruption of connecting portions of thebox walls and consequently damage the product stored therein. Inaddition, after it is first disassembled, a traverse crease is createdon the angle bar locking latch, what makes it difficult to be assembleda second time. Still, in view of the fact that the parts are made ofmetal, said box can only be made of 4 to 12 mm thick plywood.

The second design mentioned above, as well as improvements thereto andapplications therefor, was developed by Clip-Lok International Limited,known by the trademark Clip-Lok®, is described in published patentapplications PCT WO 95/13969, WO 94/25355 and WO 93/17930, in Brazilianpatent application BR 9305437-8 and in GB patent GB 2 257 453. Like theabove mentioned Vicaixa®, Clip-Lok® is also provided with a basestructure made of plywood and comprised of in compensated bottom plates,four sides and cover fastened together by means of metallic staples orclips which can be placed under pressure into recesses provided in thesurfaces of said plywood plates, thus keeping them locked to oneanother. After being attached, said metallic staples are removed whendisassembling the box by the use of a special tool.

Said Clip-Lok® system, however, in spite of also satisfying theautomotive industry needs, has its intrinsic difficulties anddisadvantages. When the box is assembled, if said clips have not beensuitably attached, they can slacken under pressure while beingtransported. An assembled box lacking a clip is a box without therequired safety for transportation and storage, for it can collapse dueto the inner and/or outer pressure thereon caused by the oscillationwhile it is transported. The clip is attached to and removed from thebox under pressure and therefore such a submission makes it a shorthalf-life part. Furthermore, said Clip-Lok® is also a box having exposedparts on its surface, what can, as already stated, cause the directcontact of metal/metal and/or metal/wood, thus damaging both themetallic parts and the wood structure of said box.

Still, a common fact with the above mentioned boxes is the lack of asuitable isolation therein of the product against external agents, suchas water and/or sea water when transported by ship, which agentspermeate into the box interior through its cover.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, an object of the present invention is overcome theimperfections of the prior art boxes for transportation and storagementioned above.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a box thatsatisfactorily fulfills the automotive industry demands for theprovisional transportation and storage of parts in general.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a longhalf-life highly safe watertight box having a versatile configurationwith no metallic part exposed on the surface thereof.

Additionally, an object of the present invention is to provide a boxthat, based on the principles used for developing the state of the artVicaixa® box described above is fully improved in its structural frame,as well as in the aspects associated with its operability, functionalityand maintenance.

Those and other objects are attained by the inventive box fortransportation and storage, which is basically comprised of a bottomplate, four side plates and a wood top, wherein said side plates arecoupled together by means of pairs of side hinges interconnected bymetallic rods.

Said side plates are coupled to the bottom plate by means of pairs ofparts specially developed therefor, and to the cover by means of Velcro®type or other closures similar thereto which can be easily opened andclosed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The objectives, improvements and technical and functional effects of thebox for transportation and storage in accordance with the presentinvention are apparent to those skilled in the art from the accompanyingschematic drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the box in accordancewith the invention, in a fully closed position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the same box but showing its coverraised;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the box shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the box shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a front view of the bottom of the box shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a detailed view of the attachment of a metallic part of thebox shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of one side of the box shown in FIG. 1 and detailsof the metallic parts;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the cover of the box shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a view along cut line X—X shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a partially exploded perspective view of the interior of thebox of the present invention as illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the boxaccording to the invention, in a closed position;

FIG. 12 is a front view of a preferred embodiment of one of the sideplates;

FIG. 13 is a top view of the side plate shown in FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a perspective exploded view of the connection of two sideplates of the preferred embodiment according to FIG. 11;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of preferred embodiment of the metalliclocking part;

FIG. 16 is a front view of a preferred embodiment of the lower metalliclocking part of the side plates; and

FIG. 17 is a profile view of the metallic locking part a shown in FIG.16.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with FIGS. 1 to 10, which is a preferred embodiment of thebox for transporting and storing products according to the presentinvention, the box comprises a pallet type bottom plate (10) providedwith a lower support insert (11), four identical side plates (20) and anupper cover (30). Said upper cover (30) is provided with double Velcro®type latches (30′) or the like in the median portions of its four ends,which latches cooperate with the respective pairs (20′) provided in theupper ends of said side plates (20).

The bottom plate (10) is provided in each of its four boundary lineswith two longitudinal recesses (12; 13) each of which is followed by therespective metallic locking parts (12′; 13′) disposed at the boundary ofsaid recesses (12; 13). Said metallic locking parts (12′; 13′) aredescribed in greater detail below.

The side plates (20) which are shown in more details in FIGS. 7 and 10,have a straight base (21) to be supported on bottom insert (11) andlongitudinal side recesses (22; 23) where pairs of collapsible metallichinges (24; 25) are to be mounted, which pairs fit into the respectivepairs disposed in the adjacent side plate (24′; 25′). Every two pairs ofhinges aligned in the same edge of the box are then attached to eachother by means of a metallic rod (40). Said metallic rod has an upperL-shaped folded end in order to be suitably handled during theassembling and disassembling operations of the box. In the upper end,said side plates (20) have a longitudinal protuberance (26) to fit intothe cover (30). Additionally, each of said side plates (20) has, in itslower end, in their base boundary, two metallic parts (27; 28) that fitinto the respective metallic locking parts (12′; 13′) disposed in theboundary of said recesses (12; 13) of the bottom (10).

It should understood that in spite of the fact that the above featureshave been referred to and/or shown in one or more sides, they coexist inthe remaining ones where they have not been referred to and/or shown.

More specifically in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, the features and details ofbottom (10) of the box according to the present invention can be seen,which bottom has an area lower than that of the lower support insert(11) and recesses (12; 13) provided in its four ends, in the boundary ofwhich are parts (12′; 13′). Said parts (12′; 13′) are provided withrespective locking pins (12″; 13″) which cooperate with respectivesliding coupling parts (27; 28), thus forming a lower locking latch inside plates (20). Said parts (12′; 13′) are pressure embedded onto thesurface of the bottom plywood (10). FIG. 6 illustrates part (12′) whichis pressure embedded onto the surface of bottom (10) by means of smallwedges (12 a; 12 b) formed by notches (12 c; 12 d) provided in thesurface of said part (12′). The same applies to part (13′). Thisconfiguration positions the bottom plate (10) of the inventive boxinside lower support insert (11).

In FIG. 7 and Details B and C, a side plate (20), a hinge (24) and asliding coupling part (27) are shown in a detailed amplified view. Itcan be seen in these figures that said plate (20) is internally providedwith longitudinal side recesses (22; 23) to the inner boundary of whichpairs of collapsible metallic hinges (24; 25) are attached by means ofthree wedges (24 a; 24 b; 24 c) disposed in their own surfaces. Saidhinges are of the type usually known, but it should be stressed hereinthat they can be disposed with their pairs of joints (24′) facingrecesses (22; 23), the outer limits of which they do not exceed. Morespecifically, it can also be seen that sliding coupling part (27) has a“U” profile, however one of the parallel surfaces (27 c) is wider thanthe other one (27 d) and the base thereof is provided with twowedge-shaped notches (27 a; 27 b) for attachment to side plate (20). InFIG. 8 the plate of cover (30) and cross-section details of its couplingwith side plates (20) are shown. It can be seen that cover (30) isprovided in its inner surface with a longitudinal recess (31) which isaligned with and perfectly fits into wedge-shaped longitudinalprotuberance (26) provided in the upper end of side plate (20). Saidfitting is such that it prevents water from entering inside the box,thus eliminating the need of protecting films presently required forstate of the art boxes.

The interior of the box shown in FIG. 1 is illustrated in FIG. 10, thusevidencing that all metallic parts are located in the inner portionthereof, thus avoiding further stress thereon as well as the frictioncaused by the oscillation of the load during the transportation.

It should be pointed out that, despite the fact that FIGS. 1 through 10shown herein illustrate a box provided with a pair of hinges (24; 25)and a pair of parts (27; 28) and (12′; 13′), the amount and the materialfor making such elements may vary, depending on the dimensions andclosing conditions required therefor.

FIGS. 11 through 17 show a specially preferred embodiment of theinventive box. The following improvements are aimed at in thisembodiment:

outer hinges that allow an overall view of the elements for assemblingand disassembling the box;

outer hinges that allow the operator who assembles and disassembles thebox to fully view the coupling/uncoupling operation of the locking rodswhen the boxes are stacked in great heights;

hinges having alternating inner/outer attachment above/below the sideplate median line which provide more stability to the attachment of sideplates to the box and at the same time cut to half the number of hinges;

lower metallic locking part of side plates stamped as a single body,what provides more mechanical strength thereto; and

upper recess in the side plate, what makes possible to attain a perfectfitting of the ends of the hinge locking rod and avoids verticaldisplacements of said rod.

It should be pointed out that despite the fact that this configurationof the box is provided with an outer metallic part, there are only fourof them, and they can be fitted into specific recesses so that they donot project from the surface of the side plates.

According to what is illustrated in FIGS. 11 through 14, it can be seenthat in this configuration the box for transporting and storingdifferent products in accordance with the invention is comprised of aside plate structure (200) provided with recesses (210; 220) along itsside ends, alternately disposed inside/outside, over which are joints(230′; 240′) of respective hinges (230; 240). Said hinges (230; 240) areattached to the same plate (200) in an alternating inner/outerattachment above/below its horizontal median line X. In the upperportion, said plate (200) is provided with a horizontal recess (250)which is sufficient for the upper L-shaped end of rod (400) to fit andbe locked therein against vertical displacement. In FIGS. 15 through 17,it can be seen that lower metallic locking part (120) of side plates(200) is provided with an arc-shaped notch (120′) in its own surface.Said metallic locking part (120) is attached to base plate (100) of thebox by means of small wedges (120′) which are also stamped in its ownsurface. Thus, it is evident that this metallic locking part is made ina single stamping operation.

It should be pointed out that, with this disposition of the parts of theinventive box, which parts are made of anti-corrosion metallic materialwhich is otherwise submitted to anticorrosive treatment, all drawbacksfound in the main container designs presently in use in the market allover the world are eliminated, mainly those boxes made of plywood whichare used for transporting pieces and automotive vehicle parts from thefactory to the assembling plant, either by road or rail or sea.

What is claimed is:
 1. A box for transporting and storing of products,said box being adapted for the transport of automotive vehicle parts andto be disassembled and restored to its original shape, comprising apallet-type bottom plate, side plates and upper cover, said side platesbeing coupled (i) together by pairs of side hinges, and (ii) to saidbottom plate by pairs of horizontal sockets in the lower portion thatcooperate with respective pairs of locking parts of said bottom plate,wherein said pairs of locking parts are provided with pairs ofrespective vertical locking pins which slide into respective L-shapedrecesses provided in said pairs of sockets, and (iii) to said cover bylatches, and by the coupling of wedge-shaped longitudinal protruberancesin the upper end portion of said plates to corresponding recessesprovided in the inner face of said cover, said pairs of side hinges,said pairs of sockets of said side plates and said pairs of lockingparts on said bottom plate, all disposed interiorly of said box withoutany portion thereof projecting to its outer surface.
 2. A box accordingto claim 1, wherein each pair of side hinges of a side plate fits into arespective pair of side hinges of an adjacent side plate assembly andbeing joined by a rod.
 3. A box according to claim 2, wherein said rodis provided with one L-shaped folded end.
 4. A box according to claim 1,wherein said side plates are provided with longitudinal side recesses,and the boundaries of which are said pairs of side hinges.
 5. A boxaccording to claim 1, wherein said side plates have a straight base torest on an insert of said bottom plate.
 6. The box according to claim 5,wherein said bottom plate has a surface area which is smaller than thearea of said insert and is also provided with recesses in its ends, inthe boundaries of which said pairs of locking parts are attached.
 7. Thebox according to claim 1, wherein said pairs of sockets have “U”-shapedprofiles provided with two parallel arms, one of said arms being longerthan the other of said arms.
 8. The box according to claim 1, whereinthe side hinges are positioned in the boundaries of said longitudinalside recesses with their joints facing said recesses.
 9. The boxaccording to claim 1 and including an outer side closure comprised of:(i) said side plates having lateral vertical recesses along oppositevertical side ends, said side plates having recesses along said oppositeside ends, said recesses being located above and below an imaginaryhorizontal center line dividing said side plates into upper and lowerregions, the interior of said recesses housing the joints of saidhinges, the upper portion of said side plates being provided with ahorizontal recess adapted for housing an L-shaped upper end of a rodthat connects the joints of said hinges; and (ii) a lower metalliclocking structure for said side plates provided with an arc-shaped notchstamped in its own surface.